Screw-in heat exchanging element for water heaters

Abstract

A screw-in heat exchanger which is adapted to a dedicated heating element receptacle, commonly found on domestic electric hot water heater tanks, which allows a tank's water to be heated or cooled while circulating a hot or cold heat transfer fluid through the heat exchanger.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 832,137, filed 2013 Jun. 6 by the present inventor.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Prior Art[0003]The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:U.S. PatentsPat. No.Kind CodeIssue DatePatentee6,837,303B2Jan. 4, 2005Butler4,865,005Sep. 12, 1989Griffith4,926,830May 22, 1990McNelley1,849,175AMar. 15, 1932GrantU.S. Patent Application PublicationsPublication Nr.Kind CodePubl. DateApplicant2003 / 0159804A1Jan. 4, 2005Butler[0004]2. Background of Invention[0005]Potable domestic water may be heated various ways. Energy costs also vary depending on the heating method used. The energy cost of heating water using a standard electrical heating element may be relatively high compared to other means of heating water such as using solar, heat pump, or gas-fired technologies. Solar water heating may be viewed as a cost effective method by collecting the su...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes an improvement for water heating systems. Specifically, it describes a screw-in heat exchanging element for water heaters that can be used in a dedicated heating element receptacle of a water tank. The technical effect of this improvement is more efficient and effective water heating in a compact space.

Problems solved by technology

Energy costs also vary depending on the heating method used.

The energy cost of heating water using a standard electrical heating element may be relatively high compared to other means of heating water such as using solar, heat pump, or gas-fired technologies.

Although active systems provide better control than other systems, control systems and pumps may be expensive and require additional energy to operate.

Many previously mentioned water heating systems are either relatively expensive or require extensive installation procedures which drive up the cost of the systems to surpass the real or perceived benefit gained from implementing such systems.

In their current configuration, existing water heating systems may lack consumer buy-in without a dramatic reduction in cost or ease of installation.

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